PTI’s peace-rally starts its journey towards South Waziristan

A caravan comprises hundreds of vehicles departed from Islamabad under the leadership of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan in the anti-drone march rallying toward South Waziristan.

While speaking to the media on his departure, the cricketer-turned-politician said the people of South Waziristan would provide security to the peace-march.

He observed, “I am leading the march for peace against US drone strikes and my party’s rally should not be stopped from proceeding. The government wanted to stop the peace rally but the people of South Waziristan were going to provide security to it.”

It is vital to mention here that over 30 anti-drone campaigners from the United States are part of the PTI’s anti-drone rally.

The former skipper said the government’s policy on US drone attacks was dubious and that Interior Minister Rehman Malik was trying to scare people away from participating in the rally.

He complained, “Attempts are being made to sabotage the march but the rally is only aiming for peace and he had no intention of initiating a fight with any group.”

Rejecting the media report of would-be-suicide-attackers in the rally, Khan said that Taliban had no intention of attacking the rally.

He was of the opinion that President Asif Ali Zardari and Maulana Fazlur Rehman will be responsible if anything happened to them.

Responding to a question regarding security threats to his march, Khan said that if someone tries to stop them, they will stop.

As per the plan, the march started from Kashmir Highway and joined by activists from Rawalpindi, Attock and Mansehra at the motorway toll plaza.

After making a brief stopover at Balkasar interchange, the marchers left for Talagang and will go to Rikhi, Mianwali, Kundian and Paharpur before reaching Dera Ismail Khan for an overnight stay.

On Sunday morning, the march would start from Tank for Kotkai in South Waziristan via Jandola and Aspikai Raghzai.

Earlier on Friday, the Taliban denied offering security to the peace march and declared that Khan was a westernized and secular man.

TTP spokesman Ihsanullah Ihsan said in a statement that the TTP was an ideological organization based on fundamentals of Islam and performed all activities in accordance with the teachings of Islam.

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Posted by Faisal Farooq on Oct 6 2012. Filed under Latest News, Pakistan, Politics. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.